Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of routes available to people in Gaza to join families in the UK.

We keep all existing pathways in response to events under review. Our position remains that at present, there are no plans to create a new visa scheme for family members of British citizens and settled migrants affected by the security situation and the Home Office is not currently considering establishing a separate route for Palestinians to come to the UK.

Since my response of 12 December for Gaza, we have extended eligibility for consular assistance. Under our extended eligibility policy, we are assisting UK visa holders to leave Gaza if they have an immediate family member currently living in the UK and hold valid permission to enter or remain in the UK for longer than six months. Immediate family members of British citizens, and those settled in the UK, who wish to come and live in the UK, and do not have a current UK visa, can apply under one of the existing Family visa routes.

UKVI is working closely with the FCDO in supporting family members of British nationals to exit from Gaza who require a visa, signposting the necessary steps and expediting appointments at the Visa Application Centre.

Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules and our suitability requirements. Consideration will be given to compelling, compassionate and exceptional circumstances raised and may be taken into account where certain requirements are not met.